In this hyper-digital, connected-but-disconnected day and age, the church that finds a way to connect people to people so that everyone has someone to walk with them and represent Christ will not only be counter-cultural but blessed by God.

What does it look like when a diocese decides to take hospitality seriously? In Taking Church out Into the Community, Bishop David Rice and Anna Carmichael share their experience of focusing on community, outreach and welcome and what it means to begin to see the face of Jesus in “the other.”

How do health and hospitality overlap? In Four Steps to a Public Health Ministry, Joshua Rodriguez-Hobbs lists how parishes can lean on and build up their spiritual gifts by supporting physical healing programs in and through their communities.

Addressing the issue of hospitality in our churches requires us to first look outside our doors and begin these important conversations with our community and neighborhood. In this issue we share ideas on how to invite those around us into relationship by asking is what needed and prayerfully seeking ways to make true welcome both our mission and ministry.

When the members of St John’s, West Hartford, planted a vegetable garden last year they thought they were simply growing vegetables. In Sharing the Bounty of God’s Garden, Bill Eakins tells the story of how their humble garden has grown into so much more – a place for the community to meet, share and support each other.

What does practicing Christ-like hospitality look like? How can we work on improving our ability to provide a genuine welcome and invitation to all? Welcome that not only allows people to feel comfortable and cared for, but also allows them to see that this place or community could be their home, a place where they could thrive, love and truly belong. In this issue, we share ideas on radical hospitality, welcome and outreach.